January 13, 2023
Update from the President
Dear University Community,
Our students are back, and the semester is underway! It has been a busy week for everyone around campus. Our faculty and staff have gone above and beyond to ensure that our returning and new students have what they need to have a successful Spring semester. Student Services and Admissions have settled our new students into their residence hall and are making them feel at home on campus. The Campus Activities Office and Campus Activities Board are scheduling activities and planning events that will take place throughout the semester. Our athletic teams are back in action, and our Spring sports are practicing for the upcoming season. As a quick reminder to students, while today was the last day to drop or add a class, January 27th is the final day to withdraw from a course. Thank you to all departments for working together for the good of our students. We are so happy to have them back after several quiet weeks on campus!
This week the University learned about an exciting opportunity to seek funding through the USDA Rural Development Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program in Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland for the fiscal year 2023. This program is designed to provide funding to help rural communities acquire the technology and training necessary to connect educational and medical professionals with students, teachers, and patients in rural areas. The grant provides a variety of technology assets, such as computer hardware, network components, and software, to enhance distance learning at educational institutions like Wheeling. We are always open to seeking opportunities such as this that will provide students with enhanced technology for online learning.
Wheeling University is one of many community sponsors that help plan the annual Wheeling Martin Luther King Day Celebration. On Saturday, the MLK Committee and our Black Student Union (BSU) have partnered to host a debate and discussion inside Troy Theater at 1 p.m. The event is an opportunity for local high school and college students to engage in thoughtful conversation about civil rights, equality, and discrimination. Sunday’s schedule includes the annual MLK March, which begins at 2:15 pm at the Windmill atop Martin Luther King Boulevard in Wheeling. Details of all the events can be found on the Committee’s Facebook page. I invite members of the Wheeling University community to participate in this celebration.
Once again, the University’s Counseling Center and Student Services will host Wellness Wednesday programs this semester. Wellness Wednesday is an outreach program of the Counseling Center to engage with students to bring awareness on relevant topics and show students what resources are available on campus and in the greater community. The programs offer support for the wellness of the body, mind, and spirit. This past Wednesday, The Upper Ohio Valley Sexual Assault Help Center and the YWCA were on campus to provide information/materials to support National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Two more Wellness Wednesdays will be held this month. On January 18th, information will be provided to help students combat the ‘Winter Blues.’ Wellapalooza is set for January 25th. For this event, the Counseling Center will collaborate with campus departments and staff, as well as NAMI Greater Wheeling, to offer insights into the eight dimensions of wellness. I encourage our students and employees to take advantage of these very insightful programs—stop by the Wellness Wednesday table outside the Benedum Room during lunch hours.
Let us use this weekend, where our country will honor Dr. King, to support his dream of promoting peace among all people and making a difference in the world. We can live Dr. King’s legacy by following his words – and this year’s MLK Celebration theme – “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” Imagine what our world would be like if we all lived this principle!
With gratitude,
Ginny R. Favede
President, Wheeling University